gail

(Have posted question on cruisecritic as well). Spending one week on land on our own in Alaska prior to one-way cruise. Need to get to Whittier by late afternoon/early evening for departure.

Using on-line travel agent after shopping for price via cruisecompete - got great deal and now am getting what I paid for - no service.

Princess says I need to book transfers with TA who booked cruise. This TA says we can not get transfers from airport, but must go to downtown Princess center in AM of cruise, sign in and book transfer time, and then return at that time. How annoying - do not understand why we can not book transfer time now or get transfer from airport, since that is where we will be returning rental car.

Any suggestions or experiences?

patandhank

Gail - I had heard there are all kinds of shuttles between the two. I just did a google search with anchorage and whittier and came up with a slew of services. I know that typically a cruise line's transfers are much higher in cost than booking it on your own.

Good luck

gail

We want to spend as much time as possible in Anchorage, so we figured that if we went on one of the latest transfers, we could risk cutting it close, since the cruiseline would be responsible for us.

There is a train - but it is in AM and ship does not leave port until 9 PM. I don't know about bus options, but I will check those out.

skfavas

Our travel agent in Albany Western Australia contacted Princess Cruises on our behalf and we have a transfer organised from a hotel in Anchorage (the name escapes me at the moment) to Whittier on Sept 20 to embark on the Diamond Princess bound for Asia. It is organised and pre paid. SJF

Reisender

This comment should be displayed in bold red flashing letters:
"Using on-line travel agent after shopping for price via cruisecompete - got great deal and now am getting what I paid for - no service."

That is exactly true and the funny thing is that you could have got the very same price from a real travel agent and maybe even some ship board credits, a bon voyage gift, etc, PLUS a real person that could help you with things like this.

kaudrey

Gail - try www.alaskatransportation.net or www.alaskaleopard.com.

Karen

gail

Reisender - actually, I tried regular cruise-specialist travel agents and no one could match price.

Got a real person to talk with me at travel agency - seems my original person had left (this has also happened to me at regular travel agent).

I think buyer beware applies - I agree with you. However, this buyer was aware and I chose price rather than service on purpose since price was the most important factor for me on this trip.

I now have transfers, prepaid, lots of info (and I did get on-board credit when I booked - they can keep the welcome gift - last cruise it was nasty cheap champagne)